The humble fixer-upper apartment or house is always a target for buyers seeking to either enter the property market or renovate and re-sell for a quick profit. The logic of buying a property that needs TLC seems undeniable. But like many things in life, it’s not always that simple. Labour costs and availability have become…
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Your home is probably your most significant financial asset, and it would make sense that you’d spend time maintaining it to head off small issues before they become big, expensive problems. If you’re already feeling a little guilty and admitting to yourself you could be more proactive, you’re not alone. New research suggests 84% of…
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For many Australians, and especially first homebuyers, the belief that purchasing property is a great way to build your wealth is foundational. While we all realise real estate has its ebbs and flows – like any other market – society has taught us that property is a solid investment for our futures. It might not…
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Creating a beautiful garden is a labor of love that requires careful planning and big decisions about the best plants for shady areas and those that capture full sun. One of the biggest decisions – figuratively and literally – is to select an ideal tree. You need to consider its ultimate height and spread so…
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Many folks find buying a rug a real conundrum – what is the best size for a room? Is it cool to put a rug on top of carpet? And is it supposed to match the carpet, the furnishings or can it be a random statement of color and pattern? It’s certainly a lot easier…
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Walk through any suburb, and you’ll not fail to see roof-mounted solar panels in your line of sight. The International Energy Agency says Australia generates more watts of power (990W) per capita than any country in the world with the Dutch (757W) and Germans (711W) immediately behind us in second and third place. Solar’s popularity…
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When moving into a new home, one of your first priorities will be to put your stamp on it by injecting your own style or personality. It’s one of the great joys of buying a property. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an apartment, condo or house, it’s natural to want to give it a personal…
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Arguably the best name for anything in real estate, Swedish Death Cleaning isn’t as dramatic as it sounds, but it can have a dramatic impact on how you live in your home. Like all the other Scandinavian nations, the Swedes take their experience of living at home very seriously. That’s probably because the weather is…
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Storing petrol is not an issue many homeowners spend much time thinking about. But a lax attitude to flammable liquids at home can end in potential disaster. It is critical that fuel stored outside is at least 20 meters from the property and away from any ignition sources. Fire codes insist storage cans hold a…
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Have you ever used colour psychology to try to decide the colour scheme of a room or your entire home? Most of us select the colours we like, and inevitably we rely on our favourites. But is there a better way? Colour psychology is the study of how colours affect human emotions and behaviour. For…
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